Remote control switching device



Dec. 14, 1948. CROWLEY 2,456,256

REMOTE CONTROL SWITCHING DEVICE Filed larch 8, 1945 Patented Dec. 14,1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OF-Fi CE REMOTE CONTROL SWITCHING DEVICEDaniel G. Crowley, Remus, Mich.

Application March 8, 1945, Serial No. 581,628

2 Claims.

This invention relates to switching devices operated by remote controlof the type in which the closing or opening of a circuit at a pointremote from the apparatus or installation to be controlled, produces theclosing or opening of circuits in said apparatus or installation or inor near a load device to be switched on or off.

Switching devices of this type are of a relatively simple character whenmerely the closing or the opening of a circuit at the desired point hasto be obtained as in this case they may be operated by a relay, asolenoid or a similar simple device. However, a much more complexarrangement is necessary as soonas the making and breaking of thecontrol circuit is supposed to entail different operations each timewhen it occurs. however the rule in many instances, the usual buttonswitch for alternately switching on full lights and dimmed lights beinga conventional example. In such a case, however, in which differentoperations are performed by the switch either complex relayarrangements, or complex installations, or mechanical distributors ortimers, usually spring operated, have to be employed which are notsufficiently simple, inexpensive and reliable for the purpose required.

It is therefore the primary object of the present invention to provide asimple inexpensive and reliable switching device for performing theabove-named differentiation between several functions performed by thesuccessive operations of one and the same remote control switch. It willbe clear that a simple and inexpensive device of this type is of greatpractical importance, as it permits to use installations which could notbe made otherwise on account of the length of heavy wire required, andof the work entailed by security regulations in connection with thewiring.

Noteworthy examples of installations in which switching devices of thetype described are most useful are master switches in a house permittingto turn on or off the lights of the house from a number of differentplaces, switching devices for dimming and brightening the lights of ahouse or shop from various remote places, switching devices arranged onthe steering wheel and other places in a car for dimming and brighteningthe headlights of a car, and the like.

The invention essentially consists in an electromagnetic switchcomprising a pendulous member with a rigid or stiff and a resilient andelastic section, each carrying a movable contact. The said pendulousmember is mounted on a pivot or fulcrum for oscillatory movement betweentwo solenoids or electromagnets.

This is cuits to'be operated in succession while the other controls thecircuits of the solenoids or electromagnets. The pendulous member whosemovable contacts cooperate with fixed contacts may assume differentoperative positions according to the solenoid or magnet which has beenenergized.

It will thus be seen that the device is capable of producing at leasttwo different switch ng operations at successive energizations and willbe ready thereafter for another cycle. The shifting from one switchingoperation to another is performed by the elastic section of thependulous switch member which swings to the position of rest on theother side and thus changes the connection of the solenoids with thesource of current.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing showing onemodification of the invention.

It is however to be understood that the fact that 'merely onemodification of the invention is described and illustrated is not to beinterpreted as limitative. The embodiment illustrated may be furthermodified without departing from the spirit or essence of the invention.v

The drawing is a diagrammatic view of the device and of the circuits.

The device consists of two magnets or solenoids I, 2, with pole pieces3, 4 facing each other. Between them an armature 5 is pivotally fixedwhich may oscillate around a pivot 6 forming a fulcrum. The armature 5consists of two sections 1 and 8, each provided with a contact 9 and I0,respectively, adapted to cooperate with two fixed con-. tacts II, i2 andI3, M respectively.

Each section I and 8 is moreover provided with a core [5 and I8,respectively, which is attracted by the pole pieces 3 and 4.

Section 1 is a rigid or stiff section of the armature which moves underthe influence of its core l5 either to the right or to the left andwhich is held in its position by a leaf spring I! when moved in the oneor other direction towards contact l I or l2. The leaf spring is soarranged that when held by pins on some fixed rart near the armature itpermits a change of position of section I from one of its contactpositions to the other only under a certain amount of friction and undera slight compression of the spring produced by means of a pin, bolt orother part attached to the said section. Such a change of position maytherefore only be performed under the influence of a force exceeding thefrictional pressure, such as, for instance, the attractive force of a manet pole on the core. Section 8 is a resilient section 3 and it consistspreferably of a leaf spring. This section may therefore move under theinfluence of its own elasticity.

The contacts H and I2 are connected to the two circuits 20, 2| to beclosed and opened in succession by the remote control switch 22. Thesecircuits include the section 30 connecting the armature 5 with thesource of current supply Ii.

The contacts l3, H are arranged in the circuits 24, 25 of the excitercoils of the magnets l, 2, which are joined at (26) to the controlcircuit 25, containing remote control switch 22. The circuits 24, 25 areclosed when one of the contacts l3, I4 is brought into operative contactwith armature contact in which is connected with the circuit 30 andbattery 3|.

The operation of the device will be readily understood from theioregoingdescription.

Assuming that the circuits 20 and 2| are those of bright and dimmedlights 21, 28, respectively,

and further assuming that the contact 9 rests on contact II and therebyconnects the source of current 3| over circuit section 30, section I ofarmature 5 and contacts 9 and H with circuit 20; and further assumingthat switch 22 which may be a spring pressed button switch is closed;then a current will flow not only through circuits 30 and 20 and lamp 21but also through magnet 2 as in the assumed position contact ill ofmember 8 rests on contact I and the circuit 25 of magnet 2 is closedthrough switch 22. The magnet 2 attracts the cores l6 and I5, the formeralready resting on its pole piece 4, the latter being pulled over fromits original position. The elasticity of member 8 permits the pendulousmember to have both cores l5 and I6 on the pole piece 4.

When section 1 of the pendulous member has been moved to the right,circuit 2! is closed and the dim lights 28 are turned on.

When switch 22 returns after having been pressed down the remote controlcircuit 23 is again opened and magnet 2 is deenergized. While member 1continues to rest in its position, memher 8 under the influence of itselasticity will move to the left and contact will rest against contact[3, this being the position of rest of the member 8.

It now button 22 is pressed again, a circuit is established includingmagnet l which comprises the circuit sections 23, 24 and 30, thecontacts l3, l0. Magnet i is energized attracting both cores l and Hiand thereby again switching in circuit 20. The operation in otherrespects repeats itself.

It is thus manifest that two successive operations of switch 22 willclose diflerent circuits, and will thus permit remote control by meansof two 4 wires and as the magnets do neither have a large currentconsumption nor require high voltages may be operated by circuitssimilar to those operating door bells. In this way installationsnecessary for the remote control are simple and inexpensive in spite ofa much more complicated local wiring which can thus be reduced to aminimum.

I claim: a

1. A magnetic switch {or remote control circuit arrangements, comprisinga pair of magnets, each having an elongated pole piece. a movablearmature between said pole pieces, consisting of a rigid and a resilientsection having its fulcrum between said sections and said pole pieces,two armature cores on said armature, arranged on the two sides of thefulcrum on the armature, both in operative position between the twoabove mentioned pole pieces, a movable contact on each section of thearmature and two fixed contact sets, each cooperating with one of saidarmature contacts. for controlling the energization of the pair ofmagnets and the circuits to be controlled respectively.

2. A switching device for insertion between a plurality of consumercircuits operated selectively by remote control and a remote controlcircuit containing a remote control switch, comprising a pair oi magnetsprovided with elongated pole pieces, an operative energizing circuit foreach magnet oi the pair, an oscillating armature, consisting of a rigidand a resilient section, arranged between said pole pieces and providedwith a fulcrum located between said sections and between said polepieces, an armature core on each side of said fulcrum, an operativecircuit containing a source of current connected with said arma- I ture,a movable contact on each section of the armature, a pair of fixedcontacts cooperating with each or said movable armature contacts, onecontact pair being connected with the consumer circuits to becontrolled, the other pair being connected with the energizing circuitsof the pair of magnets, and a connection between said circuits and withthe remote control circuit containin the remote control switch.

DANIEL G. CROWLEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,931,548 Jones Oct. 24, 1933FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 360,814 Germany Oct. 7, 1922

